Braking system resetting mechanism for a hoisted structure

Abstract

A braking system resetting mechanism for a hoisted structure includes a guide rail (14) and a brake member (10). Also included is a brake member actuation mechanism (12) operatively coupled to the brake member and configured to magnetically engage the guide rail to actuate the brake member from a non-braking position to a braking position. Further included is an outer structure having a slot (64) configured to guide the brake member actuation mechanism, wherein the slot includes a first angled region and a second angled region that intersect at an outer location. Also included is a spring loaded lever (202) operatively coupled to the outer structure and configured to engage the brake member actuation mechanism during a resetting operation, wherein the spring loaded lever biases the brake member actuation mechanism toward the outer location of the slot of the outer structure to disengage the brake member actuation mechanism from the guide rail.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A braking system resetting mechanism for a hoisted structure comprising:
 a guide rail configured to guide movement of the hoisted structure; 
 a brake member operatively coupled to the hoisted structure and having a brake surface configured to frictionally engage the guide rail, the brake member moveable between a braking position and a non-braking position; 
 a brake member actuation mechanism operatively coupled to the brake member and configured to magnetically engage the guide rail to actuate the brake member from the non-braking position to the braking position; 
 an outer structure having a slot configured to guide the brake member actuation mechanism, wherein the slot includes a first angled region and a second angled region that intersect at an outer location; and 
 a spring loaded lever operatively coupled to the outer structure and configured to engage the brake member actuation mechanism during a resetting operation, wherein the spring loaded lever biases the brake member actuation mechanism toward the outer location of the slot of the outer structure to disengage the brake member actuation mechanism from the guide rail. 
 
     
     
       2. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the spring loaded lever comprises a torsional spring. 
     
     
       3. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the torsional spring is a single spring located on one side of the spring loaded lever. 
     
     
       4. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the torsional spring is a double spring located on two sides of the spring loaded lever. 
     
     
       5. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the brake member actuation mechanism is moveable relative to the outer structure from an actuated state to a reset state. 
     
     
       6. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein the brake member actuation mechanism slides downwardly relative to the outer structure as the hoisted structure is raised. 
     
     
       7. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the brake member actuation mechanism engages the spring loaded lever during movement from the actuated state to the reset state. 
     
     
       8. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the spring loaded lever rotationally biases the brake member actuation mechanism out of contact from the guide rail to a default state as the hoisted structure is lowered. 
     
     
       9. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the brake member actuation mechanism comprises:
 a container operatively coupled to the brake member; 
 a brake actuator formed of a magnetic material disposed within the container and configured to be electronically actuated to magnetically engage the guide rail upon detection of the hoisted structure exceeding a predetermined condition, wherein the magnetic engagement of the brake actuator and the guide rail actuates movement of the brake member into the braking position; 
 a brake actuator housing that directly contains the brake actuator; and 
 a slider at least partially surrounding the brake actuator housing and slidably disposed within the container. 
 
     
     
       10. A braking system resetting mechanism for a hoisted structure comprising:
 a guide rail configured to guide movement of the hoisted structure; 
 a brake member operatively coupled to the hoisted structure and having a brake surface configured to frictionally engage the guide rail, the brake member moveable between a braking position and a non-braking position; 
 a brake member actuation mechanism operatively coupled to the brake member and configured to magnetically engage the guide rail to actuate the brake member from the non-braking position to the braking position; 
 an outer structure having a slot configured to guide the brake member actuation mechanism, wherein the slot includes a first angled region and a second angled region that intersect at an outer location; and 
 an electromagnetic device operatively coupled to the outer structure and located proximate an end of the brake member actuation mechanism in a reset state of the brake member actuation mechanism, wherein the electromagnetic device biases the brake member actuation mechanism toward the outer location of the slot of the outer structure to disengage the brake member actuation mechanism from the guide rail. 
 
     
     
       11. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein the electromagnetic device comprises a ferrite material configured to magnetically attract the brake member actuation mechanism during an activated state of the electromagnetic device to oppose the magnetic attraction of the brake member actuation device to the guide rail. 
     
     
       12. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 10 , further comprising a spring configured to bias the brake member actuation mechanism toward the outer location of the slot of the outer structure to disengage the brake member actuation mechanism from the guide rail. 
     
     
       13. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein the brake member actuation mechanism is moveable relative to the outer structure from an actuated state to a reset state. 
     
     
       14. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the brake member actuation mechanism slides downwardly relative to the outer structure as the hoisted structure is raised. 
     
     
       15. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein the brake member actuation mechanism engages the spring and the electromagnetic device during movement from the actuated state to the reset state. 
     
     
       16. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein the brake member actuation mechanism comprises:
 a container operatively coupled to the brake member; 
 a brake actuator formed of a magnetic material disposed within the container and configured to be electronically actuated to magnetically engage the guide rail upon detection of the hoisted structure exceeding a predetermined condition, wherein the magnetic engagement of the brake actuator and the guide rail actuates movement of the brake member into the braking position; 
 a brake actuator housing that directly contains the brake actuator; and 
 a slider at least partially surrounding the brake actuator housing and slidably disposed within the container. 
 
     
     
       17. A braking system resetting mechanism for a hoisted structure comprising:
 a guide rail configured to guide movement of the hoisted structure; 
 a brake member operatively coupled to the hoisted structure and having a brake surface configured to frictionally engage the guide rail, the brake member moveable between a braking position and a non-braking position; 
 a brake member actuation mechanism operatively coupled to the brake member and configured to magnetically engage the guide rail to actuate the brake member from the non-braking position to the braking position; 
 an outer structure having a slot configured to guide the brake member actuation mechanism, wherein the slot includes a first angled region and a second angled region that intersect at an outer location; 
 a fork member having a first segment and a second segment, the fork member pivotally coupled to the outer structure, wherein the first segment and the second segment are configured to engage the brake member actuation mechanism; and 
 a spring configured to bias the first segment of the fork member to disengage the brake member actuation mechanism from the guide rail. 
 
     
     
       18. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein the second end of the fork member is configured to bias the brake member actuation mechanism toward the guide rail to increase a friction force between the brake member actuation mechanism and the guide rail. 
     
     
       19. The braking system resetting mechanism of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of ridges along the slot, wherein each of the plurality of ridges biases the brake member actuation mechanism away from the guide rail.